Self-aligning thermostatic valve assembly



Oct. 6, 1931. A, SHERMAN 1,826,327

S ELF ALIGI NG THERMOS TAT I G VALVE AS S EMBLY Filed July 2, 1926 Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNiTEo s'in'rss i-fra'ieivlI vori-'ics u ALVIN G. SHERMAN, OF GROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN, ABSIGNOB '10 TEE DETROIT VAFOE STOVE COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A C(DEBOBA'JFLJIT OF MICEIGE-l sELr-ALIGNING. rHEnilrcsrATio vALvn `assniiisinv Application filed uly 2, 1,926. gefiel' No. lilr.,

This invention relates to self-aligning thermostatic valve assembly, and has .to do particularly with the provision of a simple, eicient and economical valve construction in combination with a thermostatic actuating unit for controlling the supply of fuel to an oven or similar structure., i

' lt is the object of the present invention to provide a .thermostatically operated valve structure 'for controlling the supply of fuel to the furnace and it contemplates the rovision of a simple valve structure whic is self-aligning and freely oating with reference to the valve housing whereby a perfect valve action and seat is had under all conditions of operation fl furtherobject of the invention has to do with the provision of a valve stein which is connected to the valve by means of a ball and socket Joint whereby such valve stem Y permit seating of the valvewithout in an way affecting its true alignment and whic l valve stem at the same time may have such a fit with the valve housing as tol effectively prevent the'escape of any gas and at the same time serve as a connecting means between thetheiinostat device and the valve proper.

ln the drawing:

The figure is a-vertical longitudinal sectional viewfillustrating an embodiment of the self-aligning valve structure, together with the heat -responsivedeviceas preferably positioned relative to a standard stove oven. Hitherto in the use of heat control devices for controlling the iiow of fuel to oven burners it has been customary-to design-a valve casing adapted to carry the heatresponsive elements and also adapted to guide various means for translating the motion or action of the heat responsive elements to the valve or temperature controlling member within the casing. Much diiiiculty hasbeen encountered in attempting toprovide a gas tight joint between the valve 4and valve seat,

and also between the interior of the valve l. casing and the interior of the heat responsive device. Many attem ts have been made to overcome this objection, and some of .such attempts have embodied the idea of dividwill be operable to lift and ing the valve stem into two sections; one sec- `tion being integral with the valve and extending a short distance within the valve stem guide and adapted to abut against one member of the heat responsive device, andother attempts have-been made to provide various kinds of packing pins and various designs for packing for the pins between the valve stein and the heat responsive device. iWhile some of t ese attempts have beenY more .or less successful as. to the provision of the gas tight joints between the valve casing and the heat responsive device, yet all of such structures have had some diciilty in providing a tight iit between the valve and valve seat for the reason that it has been diciilt to accurately yand relativel' align and me chine the guide for the va ve stem and the surface of the valveseat. D

llie present invention overcomes these diculties of thelmown prior art by providing a valve which is in a sense a freely Heating valve with a ball socket, and a valve stem which projects through a guide' in the valve housingand contacts with the valve at such ball socket so as to actuate the valve without in any way, confining its movement.

Referrin to the drawing which discloses one embodiment of the invention, the then mostatically controlled valve is shown as being mounted in an integral valve housing l, which preferably com rises an integral casting with a chamber 2 t erein. The valve casing is provided with a semi-partition 3 Which serves as a valve seat to separate the chamber 2 and the chamber 4. The front of the valve casing is adapted to receive a suitable closure member 5 which preferably carries a spring.

rounded end 9 of a valve stem 10. The valve stein 10 is guided by and snugly fits within a suitable guide 11 formed as an integral part of the valve casing 1, It will thus be obvious that b connecting the valve stein with the valve ymeansofa ball and socket joint at the valve itself, and preferably within the plane of the valve, that at such valve 7 becomes a floating valve which is free toseat upon thevalve seat 3 without in any way being confined by the position or alignment of the valve stem 10.

This arrangement of the valve and the valve stem makes it possible to utilize a heatI control device, such as is full described ina co-pendig application, Serial No. 110,085, filed May 19, 1926. This heat control device may comprise a suitable expansive member 12 adapted to be supported on one end by the extension 11 of the valve housing and a suitable nonexpansive member 13 adapted to contact with one end of the .valve stem 10. The expansive member or tube 12 is designed to be reciprocated back and forth with res ect to the valve/housing by means of a suitalble lever 14 pivoted to` the valve housing. This lever 14 may beoscillated about its pivot or fulcrum by means of a suitable screw plunger 15, operated and controlled by means of a suitable indicator` 16, which is adapted to be positioned on the outside of the oven. It will be obvious that movement of the indicator member 16 Will cause the screw plunger to be advanced or retarded to, in turn, cause the expansive tube 12 to be advanced or retarded relative to 'the valve housing. The non-expansive member 13 will be moved by a corresponding movement or' the tube 12 to actuate the valve stem 10, Which in turn will unseat the valve 7. A

lt will thus be obvious that this novel selfprovision of the ball and socket oint between sive device for controlling the actuation of said valve, a valve stem of uniform cross section for connecting said heat responsive device With said valve, said valve stem having a snug lit Within a guide positioned between the valve casing and the heat responsive device, and a ball and soclret connection between said valve and valve stem, said socket being1 of greater diameter than; the ball'.

ln other words, the,

aeaaeav 2. A self-aligning thermostatic valve assembly comprisin in combination, a valve casing having a va ve seat, a unitary valve, a valve stem of uniform cross section and a guide therefor having a gas tight it with the stem, and a heat responsive device carried by the casing for actuating said valve stem, said stem being mounted independently of said device and being held in operative contact With said valvebyaball and open heini-spherical socket joint.

3. A self-aligning thermostatic valve assembly, comprisin in combination, a' valve casing having a va ve scat, a unitary valve, a valve stem of uniformcross section and a guide snugly fitting the stem to render one stem having a rounded end and-a guide therefor, an integral disc valve having a substantially 'centrally located relatively large concave depression formed therein which cooperates With the rounded end of the valve stem topermit of relative movement between said valve and valve stem, and a heat responsive device carried by the casing 'tor actuating` the said valve stem, said stem and guide having a snug it and being the sole means for sealing the valve casing from the heat responsive device.

ln testimony whereof signature.

av maxed my SHERMAN. 

